In a world continuously contaminated by evil deeds, a doctor who is supposed to protect life, is arrested in Rivers State for killing a pregnant woman and selling her foetus
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
Residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, woke up to a rude shock recently after Police confirmed the arrest and prosecution of a medical doctor, who was accused of killing a 20-year-old pregnant young woman and selling her foetus.
The incident has left many residents angry and fearful, questioning how someone, who should be trusted to save lives, could be linked to such a cruel act.
Tentacle gathered that the young woman went missing after visiting the doctor’s clinic at Igwuruta, a suburb of Port Harcourt. Days later, investigations revealed that she was killed by the owner of the clinic, identified as Dr. Happiness Iheukwumere, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Hagi Clinic and Hospital and her new born baby allegedly sold.
When the incident was reported, the police moved in swiftly, arrested the doctor and commenced a deeper investigation into the case.
This is not the first time such disturbing news has come from Rivers State and other parts of Nigeria. In the past years, cases of baby factories, illegal child trafficking, and unlawful medical practices have made headlines. In 2019, police uncovered baby factories in Abia and Imo States where young women were held against their will, and babies sold. Similarly, in 2022, a shocking case in Lagos involved a nurse who secretly sold a newborn baby without the mother’s consent.
Also, the Anambra State Government in collaboration with security agencies raided a baby-making factory previously shut down in February 2024. The facility, operating under the guise of Mother and Child Hospital and Maternity in Umunya, Oyi Local Government Area was linked to Odili Ossai, a self-proclaimed doctor from Delta State.
Tentacle learnt that the February 2024 raid led to the rescue of no fewer than six pregnant teenagers, while the alleged owner of the facility, Odili Ossai, a self-acclaimed doctor from Delta State was declared to be on the run.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike who led the operation alongside the Acting Director of Medical Service, Dr. Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu described the facility as a centre of exploitation. And a major break-through in the fight against child trafficking, human rights abuses and gender based violence.
Authorities confirmed that the syndicate exploited vulnerable young women including girls aged 15, 19 and 21, who were held against their will and coerced with pregnancies.
“This is a grave violation of human dignity and medical ethics. We are deeply alarmed by the exploitation these young girls endured”.
Some of them were malnourished, mistreated and misled with false promises of financial reward,” Dr. Obidike said.
Tentacle further gathered that some of the victims were promised between N1 million and N1.5 million in exchange for their babies. In other instances, desperate women paid as much as N4.5 million to the imposter for new born babies.
Following the incidents, some concerned Nigerians are calling for stricter monitoring of hospitals, clinics and health centres to prevent an escalation of the ugly trend. “It is sad that people we trust with our health can turn into monsters, the Government must act fast,” a resident in Port Harcourt said.
What is known to many is the practice whereby abandoned pregnant girls get hooked up in these factories where they are taken care of with the arrangement or agreement that their babies would be sold to make up the expenses incurred by the baby factory operators.
This would be their reward for taking care of the pregnant girls who are now mothers without babies. After they are put to bed, these pregnant girls might be given some token to transport themselves back home.
It is also common knowledge that teenage prostitutes who “mistakenly” got themselves impregnated ended up in these factories to add “value” to the production chain. After having the babies which they never wanted, they felt relieved from their burdens and zoomed off to catch more “fun” and continue life in the immoral underworld as usual until another round of unwanted pregnancy is conceived.
However, Anambra State Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Ibadin Judith-Chukwu’s recent disclosure is worrisome and revealed a disturbing trend in Anambra State. This is different from what is generally known. She narrated situations whereby young people now cohabit by mutual consent solely to produce babies for sales. She further lamented that this unholy sale of babies is more prevalent in rural communities.
Continuing, Chukwu said, “We have seen situations where a girl gets pregnant and then someone suddenly presents a marriage proposal. After she gives birth, often without her knowledge or consent, the man takes the baby and sells it.
“This is how wicked some men could be, how would any sane man make a marriage proposal to a pregnant girl, then marry her under the pretence of love and care-only to sell her baby after she puts to bed?
To nip the trend in the bud, a social commentator, Williams Adele urged the government to take a firm stance, saying it is not only about making and enforcing laws to curb the menace of baby factories, as laws alone cannot be effective and sufficient.
“In addition to enforcing laws, the Nigerian government at all levels should create jobs for the jobless population to earn wages that can sustain them. Moribund factories must be revived and more factories should be established. This would mean countering baby factories, whose products reek of immorality, with real factories that produce legitimate consumables,” he said.
